Fri May 09 02:39:33 UTC 2025: ## Bihar Launches Scheme to Support Toddy Tappers with Neera Production
**Patna, Bihar – May 9, 2025** – The Bihar government launched the “Mukhyamantri Neera Samvardhan Yojana” (Chief Minister’s Neera Promotion Scheme) on April 30th, aiming to provide employment and financial assistance to palm tree owners and toddy tappers. The scheme, a joint initiative of the Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department and Jeevika (Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society), runs until July and focuses on the production of Neera, unfermented palm sap.
The scheme will provide financial incentives to 20,000 toddy tappers, paying ₹8 per liter of Neera produced directly into their bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). Palm tree owners will also receive an incentive of ₹3 per liter for a maximum of 10 trees. This translates to a potential incentive of ₹15,600 for tappers and ₹5,850 for owners of 10 trees. Additional payments are provided for tree marking.
This initiative follows a previous attempt to market Neera as a health drink after the state implemented total prohibition in 2016. While that initiative faltered, the government continues to promote Neera, highlighting its health benefits, including its rich mineral content and antioxidant properties. The scheme prioritizes Nalanda, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, and Vaishali districts, which have the highest concentration of palm trees and toddy tappers, many of whom belong to the Pasi (Dalit) community. The government emphasizes that Neera, unlike the fermented toddy (banned under the Bihar Prohibition and Excise Act, 2016), is a permitted alternative. Licensing is managed through Jeevika verification and the Prohibition, Excise and Registration Department.
First Piper 